Unwilling by Elizabeth Adams - Excerpt

Elizabeth Adams, author of the 'Pride & Prejudice' vagary 'The Houseguest', has a new Austen-inspired book available for pre-order and she's kindly given me an excerpt to share with you!

In 'Pride and Prejudice' Mr Bennet hasn't been especially prudent with his money. Mrs Bennet's fears for her daughters' financial futures were legitimate, but Mr Bennet was pretty sanguine about the situation, and as things turned out, it never became an issue, as not one but two of his daughters married extremely well, thus providing for the future financial security of Mrs Bennet and any unmarried sisters. A scenario where Mr Bennet's health is more precarious is well worth exploring, as it could hugely change the direction of the story. 'Unwilling' is a forced marriage scenario, where Elizabeth ends up having to marry to save her family.

Here's a poignant little scene featuring Mrs Bennet...

How to Mend a Broken Heart by L S Parsons - Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway

Today the blog tour for 'How to Mend a Broken Heart' by L S Parsons drops by. Read on for a guest post from the author, and a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself. There are 8 books up for grabs in total, 4 e-book and 4 paperback, sponsored by the publisher Meryton Press. Read on for an insight into the supporting characters of the story.

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A Searing Acquaintance by J L Ashton Blog Tour - Excerpt and Giveaway

Today the blog tour for debut author J L Ashton's modern Pride & Prejudice-inspired read, 'A Searing Acquaintance' drops by with a lovely long excerpt and a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself! Read on for more details.

Winners of the Jane and the Waterloo Map Blog Tour

Last month the blog tour for the Jane Austen mystery, 'Jane and the Waterloo Map' stopped by. You can see my review of the book here.

The blog tour had a wonderful US giveaway attached to it of three prize packages of assorted Jane Austen-inspired gifts and books, and today, author Stephanie Barron announced the winners on her website. I am very pleased to announce that the second prize winner, Sheila, won her prize from the comment she left here on Babblings of a Bookworm!

Congratulations to the three winners, and thank you to all of you who dropped by and commented to show your interest in the book. Thanks again to Stephanie Barron and Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose for letting me take part in the blog tour :)

Planned Reading for March 2016

Welshcakes... mmmm

Hurrah! It's March! I love March. And the reason that I love it is that in March, I can believe that my favourite season, Spring, is coming. Today is also St David's Day. St David is the patron saint of Wales, my country. Happy St David's Day, or Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

If you have access to Welshcakes you should eat them now. They have no calories on St David's Day (Disclaimer: this may not be true!).

Now we are settled in with a snack, let me tell you about what I plan to read this month.

On Oakham Mount by Sophia Meredith - An Excerpt

Today I have something for you from a new author, Sophia Meredith, from her 'Pride & Prejudice' variation, 'On Oakham Mount'. This is due to be released on 1 April and is available now for pre-order. Up until 1 March the book can be pre-ordered for the special price of 99p UK / 99c US. Now I'll hand over to Sophia for the first two chapters of her book:

Winner - When Mary Met the Colonel

Recently Victoria Kincaid dropped by with an excerpt of her new Mary Bennet/Colonel Fitzwilliam novella, 'When Mary Met the Colonel', and I had the enjoyment of reading the story too (see my review here). Victoria was kindly offering an e-book of the novella to one of the commenters on the blog posts. This evening my husband selected a winner at random, and the winner is...

A Little Whimsical in His Civilities Blog Tour - Guest Post & Giveaway

 Today the blog tour for 'A Little Whimsical in His Civilities' stops by and I have the honour of hosting the author, J. Marie Croft for a guest post & giveaway. This story is a humorous tale, looking at how things may have seemed from Mr Darcy's perspective when he returns to Meryton after Lydia's marriage. I have enjoyed the other stories that Ms Croft has written, the gender-swap P&P 'Love at First Slight', and she wrote a really funny story, 'Spyglasses and Sunburns' in the anthology 'Sunkissed; Effusions of Summer' which was one of my favourites of the collection so this new book is a definite on my TBR list. Without further ado I will pass over to J. Marie Croft.

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Jane and the Waterloo Map - Blog Tour and US Giveaway

Today the blog tour for Stephanie Barron’s ‘Jane and the Waterloo Map’ stops off here for my review. If you are unfamiliar with her work, Ms Barron has written a whole series of books with Jane Austen as the investigator of murders and foul play. Read on for my review, and for the chance to enter a US giveaway of some wonderful prizes.

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Amateur sleuth Jane Austen returns in Jane and the Waterloo Map, the thirteenth novel in Stephanie Barron’s delightful Regency-era mystery series.

Award winning author Stephanie Barron tours the blogosphere February 2 through to February 22, 2016 to share her latest release, Jane and the Waterloo Map (Being a Jane Austen Mystery). Twenty popular book bloggers specializing in Austenesque fiction, mystery and Regency history will feature guest blogs, interviews, excerpts and book reviews from this highly anticipated novel in the acclaimed Being a Jane Austen Mystery series. A fabulous giveaway contest, including copies of Ms. Barron’s book and other Jane Austen-themed items, will be open to those who join the festivities.

When Mary Met the Colonel by Victoria Kincaid - Review

Many years ago, when I first read 'Pride & Prejudice' I really identified with Elizabeth. Although she is more outgoing than me, I felt a kinship with her due to her sense of humour and philosophical attitude, as well as her hasty temper, but like many introverted bookworm types, I also have some level of kinship with Mary. She is definitely an interesting secondary character, and one who has had quite a lonely time of it, with her sisters divided into twosomes. I love to see Mary get a chance to shine in her own right so I was very interested to read this new novella from Victoria Kincaid, ‘When Mary Met the Colonel’.